Meeting basics
Planning your visit
Local context
Big Book By The Sea gives Maine residents an evening AA option in Portland. It meets on Monday at 6:00 PM, so it can work well for people building a predictable weekly recovery routine.
This directory currently lists 138 AA meetings around Portland, which can help if you need a nearby backup time or a different format. Across Maine, there are 122 listed Monday meetings in this directory.
Getting there
The listed address is 49 Eastern Promenade, Portland, ME 04101, USA. Use the directions button before leaving, and allow a little extra time for parking, building entrances, elevators, gates, or room changes.
Meeting-specific guidance
Based on the format tags for this listing, it is open to observers, family, friends, and anyone interested in learning about AA; speaker sharing is part of the format, so newcomers can mostly listen; Big Book reading or discussion may be part of the meeting; the format is especially newcomer-friendly. Group note from the listing: First meeting of 2025 is May 25- memorial day! A Welcoming Space for All This Meeting runs May through October Join us this summer to unlock the power of the Big Book. We prioritize creating an inclusive, supportive environment from the start. Here, everyone is valued, regardless of recovery stage. We especially encourage participation from individuals of d.
- Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early if this is your first time at the location.
- You do not need to bring paperwork, insurance information, or a referral.
- Confirm the time and location with the group or intergroup when possible, especially around holidays.
This guidance is generated from the meeting schedule, address, format tags, local area fields, and intergroup/source notes stored for this listing.
Meeting format notes
This is an open meeting — anyone may attend, including family members, friends, students and anyone curious about AA. You won't be asked to speak or identify as an alcoholic.
This is a speaker meeting: one or more members tell their story — what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now. Great format if you'd rather listen than share.
This group studies the Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous). Bring a copy if you have one — most groups have loaners.
This is a beginners meeting — built for newcomers. Expect basics, patience, and people who remember their first meeting. Arrive a few minutes early and someone will likely greet you.
This is a young people's meeting — most attendees are in their teens, 20s or 30s, though all ages are welcome.